Orthodontic appliance

ABSTRACT

An orthodontic appliance consisting of a two-component bracket assembly and a customized wire where the tooth component of the bracket assembly is semi-permanently glued to the tooth surface and the wire component of the bracket assembly is securely attached to the customized wire. The customized wire has a configuration that is derived from characteristics of both the mal-aligned and aligned states of the teeth. The series of wire components of the bracket assembly are separated by an inter-bracket distance and are specifically oriented along the customized wire to form the customized wire-bracket device. When the wire component and the tooth component of the bracket assembly are engaged, the alignment of the teeth occurs due to the elastic recoil of the customized wire. The customized wire-bracket device is completely detachable and re-attachable to the tooth component of the bracket assembly as are the two components of the bracket assembly.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 USC 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/776,436 filed, Mar. 11, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally related to orthodontic appliances. More particularly, the invention relates to an orthodontic appliance having a two-component bracket assembly comprising a wire component and a tooth component with a customized wire attached to the wire component to form a customized wire bracket device that advantageously locks in with the tooth component affixed to the mal-aligned teeth resulting in deflection and recoil of the customized wire, to bring the mail-aligned teeth into a rapid and frictionless three dimensional alignment of the mal-aligned teeth.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Mal-aligned teeth detract from the aesthetic appeal of a smile and impart a negative image of the wearer of the smile. Therefore, straightening and aligning mal-aligned teeth has gained in popularity over the years. Correcting mal-aligned teeth is the exclusive domain of orthodontists who use various implements and procedures to align a patient's teeth. The underlying principle in aligning mal-aligned teeth involves forcing movement of the mal-aligned teeth from their designated positions and re-positioning them to align with the rest of the teeth. To accomplish this method of orthodontic tooth movement, orthodontists use different appliances. The most commonly used orthodontic appliance is the edgewise appliance and its variation, namely the straight wire appliance.

The edgewise appliance system uses a combination of many individual pieces designed to function in a coordinated fashion. The two primary components of this system are, 1) tooth attachments in the form of brackets and bands, and 2) arch wires that engage the brackets and bands. These attachments which are semi-permanently and rigidly attached to the teeth serve as a handle by which force generated by the wires may be transmitted to the teeth to accomplish orthodontic tooth movement. Each attachment in this system is comprised of an orthodontic bracket bonded to the teeth with adhesives and having a rectangular slot that is capable of receiving and accommodating an arch wire with a round, rectangular or square cross section. The arch wires are held within the bracket slot using ligature ties and are a removable component of the system. During treatment, the orthodontist removes the arch wire and makes adjustments to the same wire or inserts new wires in the bracket slot. The optimum three dimensional movement of the tooth is accomplished when the rectangular slot of the bracket is completely or nearly completely filled by a rectangular arch wire. Even with the rectangular arch wire completely filling the rectangular slot of the bracket, all three degrees of control or movement of the teeth may not be efficient due to the bracket-wire play which is essentially brought about by the difference in size of the bracket slot and the arch wire engaged in that slot. Typically, elastic deflection of the arch wire generates forces that are transmitted to the teeth by the brackets attached to the teeth, thereby causing the teeth to move to a desired position. The degree of elastic deflection of the arch wire in turn depends on the properties of the material used in the construction of the wire and the size, shape and cross section of the arch wire.

In a straight wire appliance system, the angulations and inclinations of the teeth are built into the bracket eliminating the need for bending the arch wires to accomplish tooth movement. In theory, the brackets are rigidly fixed to the teeth at their precise pre-programmed or pre-adjusted positions on the mid-facial or lingual aspect of the teeth at their respective mal-aligned positions. The straight, flat, wire is then deflected to engage the bracket slots. The force generated by the elastic deformation of the wire then pulls the teeth along with it as it moves to its original shape, thereby aligning the teeth. Due to the inherent structural differences in tooth size and shape, while the general shape of the bracket may be very similar, for each particular tooth type the corresponding bracket is designed with specific compensation in the base shape, base size, general shape, slot angulations, base thickness etc, to accommodate for differences in tooth shape, size and its spatial relation relative to the horizontal plane.

Initial stages of the orthodontic treatment are accomplished using small size round wires. Although a relatively thinner wire having a round cross-section does not allow application of torquing (labio-lingual inclination of tooth) forces when engaged within an arch wire slot, it does provide a greater degree of flexibility and generally applies less force in use, which is more comfortable for the patient. The characteristic low force of round arch wires is due to their thinner cross-section. As such, wires having a round cross-section are often useful during the beginning stages of orthodontic treatment when the teeth are most mal-aligned. Use of a round arch wire allows for movement of teeth to correct mainly angulations and rotation with relatively light and therefore more comfortable forces. In this phase, the wire is loosely held in the bracket slot to allow sliding of the wire with minimal friction so that the brackets and the teeth attached to them are moved into alignment. A form of brackets called self-legating brackets have been claimed to perform better in this phase due to passive ligation and minimal forces exerted on the wire, consequently resulting in low friction. Once these corrections have been achieved, a relatively thicker square or rectangular wire typically replaces the round arch wire so as to allow torquing of selected teeth to accomplish labio-lingual inclination of the teeth. Torquing is the most difficult tooth movement to accomplish due to small moment arm. Torquing requires use of thicker and stiffer rectangular wires that engage the bracket slot completely (to avoid play). The use of such wires generates heavy forces that have been documented to cause undesirable side effects like orthodontic root resorption.

The conventional orthodontic treatment systems thus described are a cumbersome process and the bracket-wire interaction during the treatment lacks complete three dimensional control, especially in the initial stages of orthodontic treatment. The appliance of the present invention allows a true three dimensional movement of the teeth, bringing them into alignment during the entire orthodontic treatment period because all movements occur simultaneously to move the teeth from their initial mal-aligned stage to the final aligned stage thereby shortening the treatment time, as opposed to conventional orthodontic treatments where a three dimensional control is achieved only in the later stages of the treatment. In general, the appliance of the present invention addresses many limitations of conventional orthodontic treatments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an orthodontic appliance comprising a two-component bracket assembly with a customized wire attached to the wire component of the bracket assembly to form a customized wire bracket device that when affixed to the tooth component of the bracket assembly results in deflection and recoil of the customized wire to facilitate movement of the mal-aligned teeth to bring them into rapid three dimensional alignment, with the least friction and discomfort to the patient and providing the additional benefit of promoting better oral hygiene.

In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the orthodontic appliance comprises of a bracket assembly comprising a wire component and a tooth component, with the wire component rigidly and securely attached to a customized wire having a configuration derived from characteristics of both mal-aligned and aligned states of the teeth. This configuration of the customized wire, results in a specific position and orientation of the wire components of the bracket system along the customized wire. The series of such wire components of the bracket assembly are separated by an inter-bracket distance and are specifically oriented along the customized wire constituting the customized wire-bracket device. In this embodiment, the tooth component is semi-permanently glued to the teeth surface and the wire component with the customized wire is attached to the tooth component. The bracket system thus formed of the wire components and the tooth components when engaged will transmit the forces to move the teeth into alignment and the alignment of the teeth occurs due to the elastic recoil of the customized wire. The customized wire bracket device is completely detachable and re-attachable to the tooth component of the bracket assembly as are the two tooth components of the bracket assembly.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the tooth component and the wire component when engaged have a minimum three point contact or two-surface contact to allow for all desirable movement of the tooth to be generated when the tooth and wire components of the bracket assembly are engaged. Although less desirable, a one or two point contact or one surface contact between the tooth and wire components are also within the scope of the invention.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the incisal or occlusal surfaces and the gingival/apical surface of the wire component engages the corresponding concavity on the tooth component. Other modifications and means of attachment can also be used to engage the wire and tooth components of the bracket assembly.

The two component bracket assembly of the present invention allows moments arms for mesiodistal rotation, labio-lingual inclination and mesio-distal angulations (tip). The use of the appliance of the present invention, allows three dimensional alignment of the teeth during all stages of the orthodontic treatment. Effective torsional forces can be applied with small, cross sectional, square, or rectangular wires due to the mode of attachment of the two components of the bracket assembly, thereby increasing the torsional moment on the tooth and the tooth is moved to its intended position with all desirable movements occurring simultaneously, thereby shortening the treatment duration.

In embodiments of the appliance of the present invention, tooth movement can be accomplished with low forces including torquing of the tooth without the use of rigid, heavy wires and better three dimensional control achieved even with small cross section wires. The increase in the lever arm length allows the appliance to apply more effective torsional force resulting in an increase in the torsional moment.

The appliance of the present invention promotes better oral hygiene due to elimination of ligature ties and power chains to close the spaces. The convenience of disengaging and detaching the entire wire component from the tooth component further promotes oral hygiene and facilitates ease of flossing. The appliance is also designed to be a frictionless system with no binding, as the customized wire does not slide as normally occurs with conventional bracket wire interaction.

Some embodiments of the orthodontic appliance of the present invention can be customized to be used on either labial or lingual tooth surface. In yet another embodiment, hooks can be incorporated into the tooth component or wire component of the bracket assembly to engage intra-maxillary and/or inter-maxillary elastics used in the orthodontic treatment.

In yet other embodiments of the present invention, the tooth component and the wire component of the bracket assembly may consist of more than one unit working in a coordinated manner.

In the preferred embodiment of the customized wire device of the present invention, the cross section of the wire may be square or rectangular in shape and in other embodiments, the cross section of the wire may be round or polygon-shaped with three or more sides or vary in cross-sections in different sections. In addition, the customized wire may comprise multiple segments.

In the preferred embodiment of the customized wire of the present invention, the wire is made of a polymer material. In other embodiments, the customized wire is formed using a shape memory alloy (SMA) such as, nickel-titanium alloy. In general, the customized wires made of SMA's regain their shape which helps to move the teeth to the desired aligned arrangement. Other embodiments may have the customized wire made of memory polymer material which conforms to the shape of the desired alignment arrangement of the teeth. Other materials used for manufacturing the customized wire include, but are not limited to, rubbers, shape memory rubbers chromium-nickel alloys, cobalt-chromium-nickel-molybdenum, titanium molybdenum-aluminum and stainless steel.

In embodiments of the appliance of the present invention, the bracket assembly may include, but is not limited to the use of plastic, polymers, ceramics, metals, alloys, or shape memory polymer or similar materials. In addition, the bracket assembly may also be composed of a composite material that is a combination of the above mentioned materials.

In this summary of the invention, and in the specification in general, the various references to, “an exemplary embodiment,” “preferred embodiment,” “yet other embodiments” and “some embodiments” do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment (s). Rather, these references to the various embodiments mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in conjunction with an embodiment is included in at least some embodiments, but not necessarily all embodiments of the invention. Although the present invention has thus been described with reference to its exemplary and related embodiments, these embodiments should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention. It is to be understood by those skilled in the art, that the invention can be implemented in embodiments other than the ones described in this summary of the invention.

The objects, embodiments and features of the present invention as described in this summary of the invention will be further appreciated and will become obvious to one skilled in the art when viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, detailed description of the invention, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the aligned teeth in the patient's mouth with the use of the orthodontic appliance of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the back side of the wire component of the bracket assembly in the orthodontic appliance.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the front side of the wire component of the bracket assembly in the orthodontic appliance.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the wire component of the bracket assembly in the orthodontic appliance.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the back side of the tooth component of the bracket assembly in the orthodontic appliance.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the front side of the tooth component of the bracket assembly in the orthodontic appliance.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the tooth component of the bracket assembly in the orthodontic appliance.

FIG. 8 is a perspective back view of the bracket assembly comprising the tooth and wire components of the orthodontic appliance.

FIG. 9 is a perspective front view of the bracket assembly comprising the tooth and wire components of the orthodontic appliance.

FIG. 10 is a perspective side view of the bracket assembly comprising the tooth and wire components of the orthodontic appliance.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the bracket assembly of the orthodontic appliance attached to a tooth surface.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a physical or electronic model of the patient's mal-aligned set of teeth.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a physical or electronic model of the patient's mal-aligned set of teeth with the tooth component of the bracket assembly affixed to the teeth.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the bracket assembly attached to the physical or electronic model of the patient's mal-aligned set of teeth.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the physically or electronically simulated aligned set of the patient's teeth with the bracket assembly affixed to the teeth.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the customized wire device of the present invention passing passively through the wire component of the bracket assembly with physical or electronic model of the patient's teeth in a simulated aligned set.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the customized wire-bracket device which consists of the wire components of the bracket assembly attached to the customized wire.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a mal-aligned set of teeth in the patient's mouth

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a mal-aligned set of teeth in the patient's mouth with the tooth component of the bracket assembly transferred from the physical and electronic model of the patient's teeth to the patient's teeth in the mouth and affixed at the same position and orientation as in FIG. 13.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the orthodontic appliance of the present invention consisting of the customized wire-bracket device attached to the tooth component to form the bracket assembly in the patient's mouth.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the aligned teeth in the patient's mouth with the use of the orthodontic appliance of the present invention.

FIG. 22A is a partial transverse plane view of a set of physical or electronic model of the patient's mal-aligned teeth with the bracket assembly attached to the teeth.

FIG. 22B is a partial transverse plane view of a physically or electronically simulated set of aligned teeth with the customized wire passing passively through the wire component of the bracket assembly affixed to the teeth.

FIG. 22C is a partial transverse plane view of the customized wire-bracket device where the customized wire is attached to the wire component of the bracket assembly.

FIG. 22D is a partial transverse plane view of the mal-aligned set of teeth in the patient's mouth with the tooth component of the bracket assembly transferred from the physical and electronic model of the patient's teeth to the patient's teeth in the mouth and affixed at the same position and orientation as in the physical or electronic model.

FIG. 22E is a partial transverse view of the orthodontic appliance of the present invention consisting of the customized wire-bracket device attached to the tooth component to form the bracket assembly in the patient's mouth.

FIG. 22F is a partial transverse plane view of the aligned teeth in the patient's mouth with the use of the orthodontic appliance of the present invention

FIG. 23A is a vertical plane view of a physical or electronic model of set of mal-aligned teeth with the bracket assembly attached to them.

FIG. 23B is a vertical plane view of a physically or electronically simulated set of aligned teeth with the customized wire passing passively through the wire component of the bracket assembly affixed to the teeth.

FIG. 23C is a perspective view of the customized wire-bracket device where the customized wire is attached to the wire component of the bracket assembly.

FIG. 23D is a vertical plane view of the mal-aligned set of teeth in the patient's mouth with the tooth component of the bracket assembly transferred from the physical and electronic model of the patient's teeth to the patient's teeth in the mouth and affixed at the same position and orientation as in the physical or electronic model.

FIG. 23E is a vertical plane view of the orthodontic appliance of the present invention consisting of the customized wire-bracket device attached to the tooth component to form the bracket assembly in the patient's mouth.

FIG. 23F is a vertical plane view of the aligned teeth in the patient's mouth with the use of the orthodontic appliance of the present invention.

FIG. 24A is a sagittal plane view of a mal-aligned tooth with the tooth component attached to its surface and the customized wire-bracket device prepared for locking into the tooth component.

FIG. 24B is a sagittal plane view of the aligned tooth after the customized wire bracket device is locked in with the tooth component of the bracket assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The appliance of the present invention is an orthodontic device consisting of a two-component bracket assembly and a customized wire where one of the components of the bracket assembly, namely the tooth component is semi-permanently glued to the tooth surface and the other component of the bracket assembly, namely the wire component is rigidly and securely attached to the customized wire. In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the customized wire has a configuration that is derived from characteristics of both the mal-aligned and aligned states of the teeth. This results in a specific position and orientation of the wire components of the bracket assembly along the customized wire. The series of wire components of the bracket assembly are separated by an inter-bracket distance (custom position) and are specifically oriented along the customized wire constituting the customized wire-bracket device. The device of the present invention will transmit the forces to move the teeth into alignment when the wire component and the tooth component of the bracket assembly are engaged and the alignment of the teeth occurs due to the elastic recoil of the customized wire. The customized wire-bracket device is completely detachable and re-attachable to the tooth component of the bracket assembly as are the two components of the bracket assembly. The convenience of disengaging and detaching the customized wire bracket device of the present invention from the tooth component of the bracket assembly further promotes oral hygiene and facilitates ease of flossing.

Referring now to the drawings, in particular, to FIG. 1 a perspective view 15 of the alignment of a set of teeth using the exemplary embodiment of the customized wire device 10 of the present invention is shown. The customized wire device 10 is attached to the wire component 20 to form a customized wire-bracket device that locks into the tooth component 30 which is separately glued to the surface of the teeth. The wire component 20 with the attached customized wire device 10 together with the tooth component 30 forms the bracket assembly 40 for the alignment of the mal-aligned teeth. The manner of attachment of the customized wire device 10 to the wire component 20 of the bracket assembly 40 will be explained in more detail through subsequent figures. In this embodiment of the use of the customized wire device 10 of the invention, the initial step is the development of the physical or computerized three dimensional models of the mal-aligned teeth of the patient. Using the physical or electronic three dimensional models thus developed, the bracket assembly is attached to the mal-aligned teeth and a desired aligned arrangement model is developed by simulating various desirable tooth movements. A final geometric form of the desired aligned arrangement arch form is simulated for use. The software or physical measuring device used in the process can be further used to calculate each inter-bracket distance of the mal-aligned arrangement and the desired aligned arrangement. The entire orthodontic treatment by the present invention can be divided into stages and may involve multiple intermediate stages to achieve the final desired alignment stage and the use of a series of aligners comprising the customized wire device 10 attached to the wire component 20 of the bracket assembly 40.

FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show perspective views of the wire component 20 of the bracket assembly used in the orthodontic appliance system of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the back side of the wire component 20 showing the wire slot 1 into which the customized wire device (not shown here) of the present invention is inserted. FIG. 3 is the perspective front view of the wire component 20 illustrating the positioning of the lateral wings 2 a and 2 b which function to prevent the sliding of the wire component 20 on the tooth component. FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the wire component 20. This view shows the cervical section 3 a of the wire component 20 and the occlusal/incisal section 3 b of the wire component 20. These sections will fill in the concavities on the tooth component of the bracket assembly shown in the next figure.

FIG. 5, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are perspective views of the tooth component 30 of the bracket assembly. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the back side of the tooth component 30 illustrating the slots 4 a and 4 b for the corresponding lateral wings 2 a and 2 b of the wire component 20 shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the front side of the tooth component 30 having a set of mechanical retention grooves 5 that are used to anchor the tooth component 30 to the tooth surface. FIG. 7 is a side view of the tooth component 30 of the bracket assembly illustrating the cervical concavity 6 a for the cervical section 3 a and the occlusal/incisal concavity for the corresponding section 3 b of the wire component 20 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 8, FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are perspective views of the bracket assembly 40 formed when the wire component and the tooth component interact and are locked in place. FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 show the wire slot 1 of the wire component and the set of mechanical retention grooves 5 of the tooth component facing away from each other when the two components are locked together to form the bracket assembly 40. FIG. 10 is a side perspective view of the bracket assembly 40 illustrating the wire slot 1 and the lateral wing 2 a on the wire component locking in to the slot 4 a in the tooth component. The sections 3 a and 3 b on the wire component are also locked into the respective concavity for cervical portion 6 a and the occlusal/incisal portion 6 b of the tooth component.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the bracket assembly 40 attached to the tooth surface 16. The customized wire device 10 of the present invention is enclosed securely within the wire slot 1 of the wire component 20 and together with the wire component 20 forms the customized wire-bracket device that is then locked in with the tooth component 30 to form the bracket assembly 40. The mechanical retention grooves, 5 of the tooth component 30 facilitates attachment of the tooth component to the tooth surface 16 which is generally accomplished using adhesives.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view 11 of a mal-aligned set of teeth of the patient's physical or electronic model.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view 12 of a physical or electronic model of a mal-aligned set of teeth with the tooth component 30 of the bracket assembly affixed to the mal-aligned teeth. In this view, the tooth component 30 of the bracket assembly can be seen affixed to the teeth surface.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view 13 of a set of mal-aligned teeth with the bracket assembly 40 comprising the wire component and the tooth component attached to the teeth surface at their desired location and orientation as in the physical or electronic model in the patient's mouth. The inter-bracket distance between the bracket assemblies may vary in the mal-aligned teeth as seen in this view, but will become more uniform once the teeth are aligned.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view 14 of the physically or electronically simulated aligned set of the patient's teeth with bracket assembly affixed to the teeth. The teeth in the physical or electronic model are simulated to move in their desired alignment. The simulation of alignment involves movement of the teeth, including rotation and translation in all three dimensions, to achieve their desired alignment.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view 15 of the customized wire of the present invention passing passively through the wire component of the bracket assembly with physical or electronic model of the patient's teeth in a simulated aligned set. In this view, the customized wire device 10 of the present invention is seen passing passively through the wire component 20 of the bracket assembly with physical or electronic model of the patient's teeth in a simulated aligned set. This is accomplished by incorporating multi-dimensional bends in the wire. Once this is achieved, the customized wire device 10 can be securely attached to the wire component 20 of the bracket assembly.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the customized wire-bracket device of the present invention. The wire component 20 when attached to the customized wire device 10 is at custom orientation and position and along with the customized wire device 10 and together constitutes the customized wire-bracket device for tooth alignment. The customized wire device 10 as seen in this view has multi-dimensional custom bends such that the customized wire device passes passively which are capable of passing through the wire slot (not seen here) of the wire component 20 of the bracket assembly. Once this arrangement of the customized wire device 10 within the slot of the wire component is achieved, the customized wire device 10 is attached to the wire component 20 of the bracket assembly so that there is limited sliding or no sliding at all back and forth, or rotation of the wire in the wire slot of the wire component 20. In the preferred embodiment of the customized wire device 10 the wire is made of a polymer material and is square or rectangular in shape. In other embodiments the customized wire 10 may be round or polygon-shaped with three or more sides and may also comprise multiple segments and can be constructed using various materials including shape memory polymers, rubbers, shape memory rubbers, shape memory alloys and other such materials.

The customized wire device 10 and its related system have the following features: Wire length: Determined by the n bracket widths, where n is the number of teeth that will have bracket assembly attached to them and n−1 inter-bracket distances. The bracket widths are constant for specific teeth. Each inter-bracket distance for the wire component will be determined from the corresponding inter-bracket distance of the mal-aligned arrangement model of the teeth and the desired aligned arrangement model for the teeth whichever is greater. Therefore the length of this wire component will be n bracket width+n−1 inter-bracket distances. In each inter-bracket space where mal-aligned arrangement inter-bracket width is greater than desired aligned arrangement inter-bracket distance, curves, bends and/or loops can be incorporated in that specific inter-bracket space such that the distance between the adjacent wire components is smaller than the length of the wire between the adjacent wire components when the customized wire device 10 is in passive state before the incorporation of curves, bends and/or loops corresponds to the mal-aligned arrangement inter-bracket distance and the wire length after curves, bends and/or loops equals or is less than the desired aligned arrangement inter-bracket distance. Such an arrangement facilitates attachment of the wire component to the tooth component at the mal-aligned stage. On the other hand, incorporation of curves bends and loops in that inter-bracket span facilitates movement of teeth into desired alignment due to elastic recoil of the wire. Wire Arch form: Corresponds to the desired aligned arrangement arch form of the patient. This in turn includes geometric form or V, U or any other shape. The desired aligned arrangement serves as a template for the customized wire such that the wire device 10 fits over the wire component 20 of the bracket assembly 40 with both tooth component 30 and wire component 20 affixed to the desired aligned arrangement model. Multi-dimensional bends: The customized wire device 10 may also have multi-dimensional bends as seen in FIG. 16 such that the wire passes passively through the wire slot (not seen here) of the wire component 20 of the bracket assembly 40 when each bracket assembly 40 is attached to the corresponding tooth at the desired aligned stage.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view 16 of a mal-aligned set of teeth in the patient's mouth. The mal-alignment of teeth involves rotation and bodily displacement of teeth from ideal position.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view 17 of a physical or electronic model of mal-aligned set of teeth with the tooth component 30 of the bracket assembly affixed to the mal-aligned teeth. In this view, the tooth component 30 of the bracket assembly can be seen affixed to the teeth surface. The tooth component of the bracket assembly are transferred to the patient's mouth using indirect bonding technique, as described earlier. The bracket assembly is attached to the tooth surface by a procedure commonly referred to as bonding. Of the two commonly used bonding procedures, direct bonding and indirect bonding, the indirect bonding procedure is used in the preferred embodiment preferably used for accuracy in bracket positioning over the patient's teeth. In this procedure, the brackets are positioned on the three dimensional model of the patient's teeth, outside the patient's mouth. Once the brackets are positioned and attached to the model, a transfer tray is fabricated preserving the position of the brackets relative to the teeth. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a physical model of the patient's mal-aligned teeth arrangement is first constructed in order to fabricate the indirect bonding tray. The tooth component 30 of the bracket assembly will be attached to the facial or lingual surface at the desired location and desired orientation on the tooth surface. The transfer tray is constructed using a putty or flexible plastic material that is pressed over the model and the tooth component of the bracket assembly such that it covers at least the occlusal/incisal and the surface where the tooth component needs to be attached. The transfer tray is removed making sure that the tooth components of the bracket assembly are now embedded in the transfer tray. This transfer tray will have the shape of a patient's dental anatomy with the tooth component 30 of the bracket assembly releasably attached to the transfer tray. In order to bond the tooth component 30 of the bracket assembly to the teeth, the teeth are prepared by etching, priming and coating their surfaces with adhesive. The transfer tray is then placed in the patient's mouth and pressed over the patient's teeth until the adhesive cures either chemically or using visible light. The tray is then removed from the mouth while the tooth components 30 of the bracket assembly remain firmly bonded to the teeth surfaces at their desired location and orientation as in the physical or electronic model in the patient's mouth.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view 18 of a set of mal-aligned teeth with the customized wire-bracket device comprised of the wire component 20 and the customized wire device 10 attached to the tooth component 30 to form the bracket assembly 40. The physical or electronic model of the customized wire device 10 with its appropriate arch form and optimum length is transferred to the wire component 20 so that it fits passively in the bracket assembly 40 when it is attached to the desired aligned arrangement model of the teeth.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view 19 of an aligned set of teeth resulting from the use of the customized wire device 10 with the bracket assembly 40. The customized wire device 10 is first affixed to the wire component 20 to form the customized wire-bracket device and then the aligner thus formed is transferred to the tooth component 30 to form the bracket assembly 40. The entire series of bracket assemblies on the patient's teeth with customized wire device attached to the wire component of the bracket assembly constitutes the orthodontic appliance of the present invention. The wire components will have position and orientation that will result in elastic deflection of the customized wire device 10 when the wire component 20 is secured to the tooth component 30 and will apply the necessary forces to move the teeth to the desired aligned arrangement due to the elastic recoil of the customized wire device 10. A series of customized wire-bracket devices may be required to achieve the final satisfactory alignment of the teeth. The series of customized wire-bracket devices are sequentially used to align the dentition in all three dimensions of space. The so called prescription of the bracket is built in as a result of brackets oriented in their ideal position over the model of the desired aligned arrangement. The teeth are brought into desired aligned arrangement as forces are being transmitted to the teeth after the wire component 20 is securely attached to the tooth component 30 of the bracket assembly.

FIG. 22A is a partial transverse plane view of a set of physical or electronic model of the patient's mal-aligned teeth with the bracket assembly 40 attached to the teeth without the customized wire device of the present invention.

FIG. 22B is a partial transverse plane view of a physically or electronically simulated set of aligned teeth with the customized wire device 10 passing passively through the wire component of the bracket assembly 40 affixed to the teeth.

FIG. 22C is a partial transverse plane view of the customized wire bracket device with the customized wire device 10 attached to the wire component 20 of the bracket assembly.

FIG. 22D is a partial transverse plane view of the mal-aligned set of teeth in the patient's mouth with the tooth component 30 of the bracket assembly transferred from the physical and electronic model of the patient's teeth to the patient's teeth in the mouth and affixed at the same position and orientation as in the physical or electronic model.

FIG. 22E is a partial transverse view of the orthodontic appliance of the present invention consisting of the customized wire device 10 attached to the wire component to form the wire-bracket device attached to the tooth component to form the bracket assembly 40 in the patient's mouth.

FIG. 22F is a partial transverse plane view of the set of aligned teeth in the patient's mouth after the wire component with the customized wire device 10 is attached to the tooth component on the teeth to form the bracket assembly 40.

In general, FIG. 22A through FIG. 22D demonstrate the mesio-distal rotation of the mandibular right second premolar. The mesial inter-bracket length in the mal-aligned arrangement model is smaller than the inter-bracket length in the desired aligned arrangement model; the customized wire length at the mesial inter-bracket span will be equal to or greater than inter-bracket length at desired aligned arrangement. The distal inter-bracket length of the customized wire device 10 is equal to or less than the inter-bracket distance at desired aligned arrangement. This particular configuration allows the premolar to de-rotate to its ideal position.

FIG. 23A is a vertical plane view of a physical or electronic model of a set of mal-aligned teeth with the bracket assembly 40 attached to them.

FIG. 23B is a vertical plane view of a physically or electronically simulated set of aligned teeth with the customized wire device 10 passing passively through the wire component of the bracket assembly 40 affixed to the teeth.

FIG. 23C is a perspective view of the customized wire-bracket device where the customized wire device 10 is attached to the wire component 20 of the bracket assembly.

FIG. 23D is a vertical plane view of the mal-aligned set of teeth in the patient's mouth with the tooth component 30 of the bracket assembly transferred from the physical and electronic model of the patient's teeth to the patient's teeth in the mouth and affixed at the same position and orientation as in the physical or electronic model.

FIG. 23E is a vertical plane view of the orthodontic appliance of the present invention consisting of the customized wire-bracket device with the customized wire device 10 attached to the tooth component to form the bracket assembly 40 in the patient's mouth.

FIG. 23F is a vertical plane view of the set of aligned teeth in the patient's mouth after the customized wire device 10 of the bracket assembly 40 elastically deflects to align the teeth.

FIG. 23A through FIG. 23F demonstrate the principle of the mesio-distal tip (angulation). Mesio-distal tip (angulation) refers to the angular movement of the tooth about an axis passing essentially perpendicular to the labial surface of the tooth in order to bring the occlusal edge of the tooth in line with occlusal plane of the arch. The desired mesio-distal tipping movement is accomplished by securely attaching the wire component to the corresponding tooth component. The prescription (which is the intended mesio-distal movement) is built into the bracket system as it is derived from the desired mesiodistal angulation of the tooth in the desired aligned arrangement. When the wire component 20 is secured to the tooth component 30, the elastic deformation of the customized wire device 10 will apply the necessary force/couple to cause mesio-distal tip.

FIG. 24A is a sagittal plane view of a mal-aligned tooth with the tooth component 30 of the bracket assembly attached to its surface and the customized wire-bracket device formed from the wire component 20 and the customized wire device 10 prepared for locking into the tooth component 30.

FIG. 24B is a sagittal plane view of the manner in which the tooth is aligned after the wire component 20 with the customized wire device 10 is locked in with the tooth component 30 to form the bracket assembly 40. The elastic recoil and deflection of the customized wire device 10 results in the alignment of the tooth.

FIG. 24A and FIG. 24B demonstrate the principle of torquing as applied to the orthodontic appliance system of the present invention. Torque refers to the movement of the tooth in labial or lingual direction. The desired labio-lingual torquing movement is accomplished by securely attaching the wire component to the corresponding tooth component. The prescription (which is the intended labio-lingual movement) is built into the bracket system as it is derived from the desired labio-lingual inclination of the tooth in the desired aligned arrangement. When the wire component 20 is secured to the tooth component 30, the elastic deformation of the customized wire device 10 will apply the necessary couple to cause the torquing movement as illustrated in FIG. 24B.

The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention through the drawings and the detailed description of the manner of using the customized wire device in the orthodontic appliance system should not be construed to limit the scope of the invention. It is to be understood that the embodiment of the present invention as described herein do not limit any application or scope of the invention and that the invention can be carried out and practiced in various ways and implemented in embodiments other than the one outlined in the description above. It is to be further understood that the phraseology and terminology used to describe the invention are for descriptive purposes only. It should be understood and obvious to one skilled in the art that alternatives, modifications, and variations of the embodiment of the present invention may be construed as being within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An orthodontic appliance for aligning teeth, the orthodontic appliance comprising: a bracket assembly comprising a tooth component and a wire component; said tooth component semi permanently glued to the tooth surface of mal-aligned teeth; said wire component having a wire slot to receive a customized wire; said customized wire having a configuration derived from characteristics of the patient's simulated mal-aligned and aligned state of teeth; said customized wire rigidly attached to a plurality of said wire components of said bracket assembly resulting in specific position and orientation of said plurality of wire components; said customized wire attached to said plurality of wire components to form a customized wire-bracket device; said customized wire-bracket device when attached to a plurality of said tooth components glued to the tooth surface of said mal-aligned teeth, recoils and deflects to align said mal-aligned teeth; and said customized wire-bracket device detachable from said plurality of tooth components in one piece and re-attachable when needed.
 2. The orthodontic appliance as set forth in claim 1 wherein the position and orientation of said plurality of wire components on said customized wire is determined by an inter-bracket distance between them.
 3. The orthodontic appliance as described in claim 2 wherein each of said inter-bracket distance between said plurality of wire components is the length of said customized wire between adjacent wire components in the physical or electronic model of mal-aligned teeth arrangement with replica of said bracket assembly attached to the teeth or simulated desired aligned arrangement of teeth with replica of said bracket assembly attached to the teeth whichever is greater.
 4. The orthodontic appliance as described in claim 3 wherein said inter-bracket distance between the said wire components if smaller in physical or electronic models of the desired aligned arrangement of teeth, compared to the corresponding inter-bracket distance in the mal-aligned stage will consist of curves, loops and bends in the wire, such that the distance between said wire components is reduced when said customized wire is in passive state compared to the length of said customized wire between said wire components.
 5. The orthodontic appliance as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plurality of said tooth components and said plurality of wire components have different orientations to achieve the desired aligned teeth arrangement.
 6. The orthodontic appliance as described in claim 5 wherein orientation of each of said plurality of wire components on said customized wire is determined by orientation of each of said tooth component and said wire component on the respective teeth on the physical or electronic model of desired aligned arrangement and such orientation is transferred to said customized wire as said customized wire contains multi-dimensional bends in order to pass passively through each of said plurality of wire components with said bracket assembly attached to the physical or electronic model of the desired aligned arrangement of the teeth.
 7. The orthodontic appliance as described in claim 5 wherein orientation of each of said plurality of wire components on said customized wire is obtained by the orientation of each of said plurality of tooth components and wire components on the respective teeth on the physical or electronic model of desired aligned arrangement with over-corrected positions for, mal-aligned teeth.
 8. The orthodontic appliance as described in claim 5 wherein orientation of said plurality of wire components on said customized wire is a set of predefined values.
 9. The orthodontic appliance as set forth in claim 1 wherein the plurality of tooth components is attached to the labial or lingual tooth surface.
 10. The orthodontic appliance as set forth in claim 1 wherein said customized wire may include multi-dimensional bends, curves, or twists to achieve the desired aligned teeth arrangement.
 11. The orthodontic appliance as set forth in claim 1 wherein said customized wire has a square, rectangular, or circular cross section.
 12. The orthodontic appliance as set forth in claim 1 wherein said customized wire is securely attached to said plurality of wire components with or without the use of mechanical interlocking, adhesive, chemical bonding, laser welding or similar procedures.
 13. The orthodontic appliance as set forth in claim 1 wherein said wire component may have hooks to engage inter-maxillary elastics used to correct inter jaw relationships.
 14. The orthodontic appliance as set forth in claim 1 wherein said customized wire is fabricated from plastic, polymers, metals, metal alloys, shape memory polymers, rubbers or a combination of these.
 15. The orthodontic appliance as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plurality of wire components and said plurality of tooth components are fabricated from plastic, polymers, metals, metal alloys, shape memory materials or a combination of these. 